A reading guide to comics and books

With an adaptation of the first American Assassin book coming in a cinema near you very soon, let’s take a look at the book series.

What is The Mitch Rapp/American Assassin Series?

Even if that will probably change after the movie, those books are mostly known as the Mitch Rapp Series. Written by Vince Flynn until his death (Kyle Mills is the author now), those novels are about an undercover CIA counterterrorism agent named Mitch Rapp, as you may have guessed it.

Recommended for mature audiences, the Mitch Rapp Series is about stopping terrorist attacks on the United States. Rapp is willing to take measures that might be considered more extreme than he should. Obviously, he gets results, but his road his paved with a lot of frustrations.

The Mitch Rapp Series Chronological Reading Order:

American Assassin – Mitch Rapp was a gifted college athlete without a care in the world … and then tragedy struck. Terrorists attacked innocent American citizens, and Rapp’s girlfriend was among the murdered. Two hundred and seventy souls perished on that cold December night, and thousands of families and friends were left searching for comfort. Mitch Rapp was one of them, but he was not interested in comfort. Now he wants retribution.

Kill Shot – In the year since the CIA trained and then unleashed him, Mitch Rapp has dismantled the network of monsters behind the Pan Am Lockerbie terrorist attack. The hunt leads to Paris, where a deadly trap is sprung as the bullet leaves Rapp’s silenced pistol. Washington wants no part of the international crisis, and Rapp is deemed a liability.

Transfer of Power – Mitch makes his way to the White House and discovers the president is not as safe as Washington’s power elite thought. Mitch rushes to save the hostages before the terrorists can extract the president from his bunker.

The Third Option – Mitch Rapp is sent on a mission to eliminate a European industrialist who has been supplying highly sensitive equipment to one of the world’s most notorious sponsors of terrorism. He doesn’t know that the ultimate target of this mission is himself.

Separation of Power – Newly appointed CIA director Dr. Irene Kennedy is the target of an inside plot to destroy her and prematurely end the American president’s term. To make matters worse, Saddam Hussein is close to entering the nuclear arms race. With the haunting specter of World War III looming, the president calls on Mitch Rapp.

Executive Power – Mitch Rapp’s cover has been blown. After leading a team of commandos deep into Iraq, he has been publicly hailed by the president as the single most important person in the war against terrorism.

Memorial Day – When a spike in CIA intelligence suggests a terrorist attack planned for Memorial Day, the president orders Mitch Rapp, his top counterterrorism operative, to pull out all the stops.

Consent to Kill – For years Mitch Rapp has been on the frontline of the war against terror. His bold actions have saved the lives of thousands – but in the process his list of enemies has grown inexorably. There are even those within his own government who would like to see him eliminated.

Act of Treason – Two weeks before the election – and presidential candidate Josh Alexander’s motorcade is decimated by a terrorist bomb. Alexander survives the attack, although members of his entourage are not so lucky. It appears to be the work of al-Qaeda. But then CIA director Irene Kennedy is presented with toxic classified information.

Protect and Defend – No longer willing to wait, Israel brings down Iran’s nuclear program. The attack leaves a disaster in its wake, and has Iranian calling for blood. Mitch Rapp devises a brilliant plan to humiliate Iran’s government and push the nation to the brink of revolution.

Extreme Measures – A lethal terrorist cell is about to descend on America – and Mitch Rapp needs his best man to take on this threat. Former Marine Corps officer Mike Nash, who has served his government honorably for 16 years, is Rapp’s choice. The one thing Nash never saw coming was that his own government was about to turn on him.

Pursuit of Honor – Mitch Rapp is on the trail of the traitor within. In this action-packed novel Flynn returns to the secretive world of fearless Americans who must risk their lives for their country’s security, fighting a covert war that can never be discussed, even with their own political leaders.

The Last Man – The head of clandestine operations in Afghanistan has been kidnapped, his four bodyguards executed in cold blood. Rapp is dispatched to find his missing friend, Joe Rickman, at all costs. He isn’t the only one looking for Rickman; an FBI special agent is at his heels, determined to blame Rapp for the bloody debacle.

The Survivor – When Joe Rickman steals a massive amount of the Agency’s most classified documents, CIA director has no choice but to send Mitch Rapp after him. Rapp quickly dispatches the traitor, but Rickman proves to be a deadly threat to America even from beyond the grave.

Order To Kill – Mitch Rapp finds himself chasing false leads from continent to continent in an effort to keep Pakistani nukes from falling into the hands of terrorists. Soon, it becomes alarmingly clear that the forces in Moscow are bent on fomenting even more chaos and turmoil in the Middle East, and Rapp must go deep into Russian territory, posing as an American ISIS recruit.

Enemy of the State – After 9/11, the U.S. one of the most secretive and dangerous deals in its history. The evidence against the powerful Saudis who coordinated the attack would be buried. In return, King Faisal would promise to keep the oil flowing and deal with the conspirators in his midst. When the king’s own nephew is discovered funding ISIS, the president suspects, he decides that the royalty needs to be sent a message and that Mitch Rapp is just the man to deliver it.

The Mitch Rapp Series Publication Order:

Everything started with Transfer of Power. Ten years later, Flynn decided to go back to the beginning with two prequels. Because of that, it can be confusing if you read the series in publication order, but here it is anyway:

1 Comment

Paul Young

These books are fantastic and I am working my way through the series currently on number 9. All I can say absolutely brilliant, has me riveted to each book and desperate to move onto the next after finishing the book. Impossible to put down.

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